yeah boi

Was really let down by this film. Undoubtedly some great acting performances, with moments of directorial/visual finesse and a beautiful location setting. However, these cannot save the film’s ultimately lacklustre plot and a seemingly unclear point or perspective, and not in a good way. Plot has multiple threads that are never concluded, the threads themselves do not justify an open ended conclusion thus rending large parts of the film as lacking any purpose. The father’s terrible parenting is given no background or narrative time to build, thus giving us no perspective on his actions. The mother’s utterly disgusting gaslighting of her son isn’t played for any greater theme or payoff. Rather than being a “strong and complex female”, she is inexplicably horrid, with the film unable to decide weather or not it sympathises with her. If the film wanted us to sympathise with these flawed parents who are going through a rough time, they failed to succeed. If they are meant to be unlikeable, then we see no dichotomy (thematic juxtaposition) or character to relate to in the recipient of all this abuse in the son, as he is stone cold as a character and lacks any agency. The son reacts passively to this trauma thrust upon him with him giving no bite back, thus not even allowing this film to serve as a lesson on bad parenting as the child seems unresponsive to these events. The film carries the facade of an intellectual, slow burning, retro family drama that delves into uncomfortable subjects. It is well shot, well acted, moody atmosphere, slow paced, snappy dialogue and deals with depressing subject matters. Yet all the film creates is a display of this unpleasantness, with little moral intention or driving narrative or philosophical point. A film that wants to be clever and artsy, but lacks intellect or any real artistry.